Puri: Millions of devotees witnessed the annual Ratha Jatra of Lord Jagannath - the Lord of Universe - in Odisha's pilgrim town Puri today. 

Amid sounds of gongs, cymbals and conches and 'Hari Bol' chants reverberating the cloudy sky, the three divine chariots carrying Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra rolled on the Grand Road to Gundicha Temple, the destination place, where the deities will stay for a few days during 11-day long Ratha Jatra. 

chariots

The devotees, security personnel and servitors pulled the chariots with devotion after completion of all rituals. 

The deities were placed on respective chariots following 'dhadi pahandi' rituals earlier in the day. The ceremonial procession began at 11 am, delayed by around 2 hours. The ritual was scheduled at 9 am. 

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The pahandi ritual began with Lord Sudarshan and the weapon of Lord Jagannath was placed on Devi Subhadra's Darpadalan. While Lord Balabhadra and Lord Jagannath were brought to Taladhwaja and Nandighosha chariots respectively in a 'pahandi', Sunya Pahandi was performed for Devi Subhadra, as the Goddess represents power of Lord Jagannath. 

After the deities were seated on the chariots, Puri Govardhan Peeth's Shankaracharya Nischalananda Saraswati accompanied by his disciples offered prayer to deities on the chariots as per the protocol. 

The chariots were pulled at 4.10 pm following the chhera panhara ritual performed by Gajapati Maharaja Dibya Singha Deba on three wooden divine chariots. 

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Lord Balabhadra's chariot Taladwaja rolled on the road followed by Devi Subhadra's Darpadalan chariot and Lord Jagannath's Nandighosha chariot.